Arrived safely after a slightly delayed flight from Heathrow. The city has a really good vibe and is really comfortable to walk around. Spent today being a tourist hopping on and off the trolley bus tour visiting Granville Island, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Stanley Park and many other spots.Suspension bridge is within a sort of nature theme park and the entry fee is a bit steep at almost $30 and the brochure do not mention any fee so once you are there you are on the hook really

Got a lot of help at the Tourist Information Centre in Canada Place with arranging travel and accommodation for the next part of the trip, north to Prince Rupert. The staff are enthusiastic volunteers - student and retirees all being trained up for the 2010 Winter Olympic tourist invasion.One of the retirees was helpful but SLOW I nearly lost the will to live but luckily she passed me on to some of her younger colleagues who saved the day - and my sanity!

Met up on Friday and Saturday with a friend from Scotland who lives in Calgary and yes she is involved with hockey and was in Vancouver to do some umpiring

! Spent a fantastic day on Grouse Mountain which involved a cable car - OK- and then a ski lift - not so OK -it was a bit scary but worth it at the top. Clear blue skies and a truly panoramic view of Vancouver and beyond.

I am now in Port Hardy at the north end of Vancouver Island having travelled all day. We really have no concept of the distances involved in this vast country. To get here first off this morning I flew by seaplane to Nanaimo which was an exhilarating experience and a very quick way to get to the island. From Nanaimo to Port Hardy I travelled by Greyhound Bus - not so exhilarating - it took 7 hours but the scenery was breathtaking and I got to see 4 brown bears foraging at the side of the road. Why am I in Port Hardy? To catch the ferry to Prince Rupert which sails along what is known as the Inside Passage and is supposed to be one of the best sails on the planet. I hope so because it means being picked up at my hotel at 5am and not reaching Prince Rupert till 11.30pm so an early night for me.

Beautiful skyline , seals barking, bald eagles swooping - nature you canny beat it.Hope you can see some of my first photos